This year’s edition of the 10th RSC Hockey 9’s held on the 16th & 17th July 2011 at the Bukit Kiara Sports Annexe saw KL Hockey Club walking away with both the coveted George Koshy RSC Hockey 9’s challenge trophies. Whilst the men’s team won the main cup competition at their second attempt, the Ladies grabbed the Ladies category cup event on their maiden appearance. The 10h edition tournament attracted a total number of 30 teams, 24 men’s and 6 ladies. This year’s competition also saw the return of the Ladies tournament. Due to a lack of teams there was no competition for Ladies last year. The tournament saw the addition of several first timers to the competition, among them being Sentul Sports & Cutural Club, Synergy Hockey Club, Victoria Institution Old Boys Association, ISCI ladies from Indonesia, Tornadoes Singapore Hockey Club (Ladies) and KL Hockey Club Ladies. Special mention must also be made of foreign team participation, they being, the ever present Singapore Cricket Club, Tornadoes Vietnam Hockey, Bakerites Singapore and ISCI Indonesia.
The weather was kind and fine with a cloudy spread and the participants were full of enthusiasm to display their skills what with the foreign flavour present. Since the weather was kind to the participants, the first day’s competition went on without a hitch and by mid noon the teams were seen planning strategies for the next day. This could be so that they could avoid the power-house teams in the next round and concentrate in the other categories up for grabs. Upon completion of the first round, the teams were then categorized into the various categories :- the top two from each group advancing to the main Cup Competition, the next two falling into the Plate competition and the bottom two in the groups going into the Bowl competition.
At the end of the 1st round competition which was on Sunday morning, the following men’s teams qualified for a shot at the coveted George Koshy Trophy. They were defending champions UNIKL, KL Hockey Club, Sapura Hockey Club, ISCI, Vietnam Tornadoes, RSC Hounds, and newcomers Sentul and VIOBA. It must be pointed out here that for the team of oldies from RSC, progress to the main competition has been the norm as time and again and with age against them they still have it in them to be in the main cup competition, and that in its state is an achievement of sorts. Whilst the focus was on the younger Dogs to qualify, the Hounds somehow always upset the odds. This team led by Bobby Ho is made up of veterans Alex Voon, Azman, Simon See, Narendran, Winsan (though not in age) Jay Ooi, James Andrew, Siva and the energetic Jonathan.
The second round matches pitted some exciting matches in all categories as teams that saved their efforts earlier were seen “pumped up” to perform in the upcoming matches. This was due to the fact that it was a knock out stage and they wanted to progress as far as they could. Some teams also had it in them to hold out for a draw and deliver at the penalty shoot out stage. Call it strategy or tragedy but this definitely was the plan for some. Such fine tacticians …………
At the end of 2 days competition and when the dust had settled, newcomers KL Hockey Club emerged champions in the Men’s Cup competition when they beat another newcomer, Sentul Hockey Club 2-0 in the finals. On the way to the finals, KLHC had earlier dethroned defending champions, UNIKL, in the q-finals 1-0 and in the semi finals they eliminated 2008 champions Sapura Hockey Club. The path to the finals for KLHA was a tough one and they definitely did show their prowess and caliber to be worthy champions.
In the Men’s Plate category, the final was an all SJAA affair when SJAA Seniors beat SJAA Juniors 1-0 in the final. Observers say that the Golden goal scored by Baldwin, was actually a miscue, because the goalkeeper had dived in an attempt to parry the ball. But somehow some turf of grass popped up from the ground and the goalkeeper was conned into making an unwarranted save. This resulted in the ball trickling under his body and into goal. So much for this fine skill, Baldwin !!!. In the Bowl Competition, last years winners, Bakerites were dethroned by Shell IT in the finals. In the Ladies category, the title was won by another first timer when KL Hockey Club Ladies triumphed over RSC by 2-0.
At the prize giving ceremony, the organizing chairman, Oommen then congratulated all the winners and reminded all participating teams to look out for next years tournament. He also thanked the donor, Mr George Koshy, for his donation of cash awards to both winners of the Men’s and Ladies event. Also present during the prize giving were club President, Mr Ronald Quay, Vice President Ms Julie Hoh, Sports Chairman Mr Seeni and other prominient former internationals Yg Bhg Dato Yogeswaran, Dato Sri Shan, Ow Soon Kooi, K Balasingam and S Balasingam. The sponsors, Carlsberg Malaysia, and CIMB were also present. The event ended with a photo shoot of the organizing committee and the distinguished guests.
The night before, during the tournament dinner function, the organizing Chairman Oommen Koshy thanked all the participating teams for taking time off to participate in this tournament. He specially thanked the foreign teams who had made it a point to pen the RSC Hockey 9’s dates in their calendar and were always a feature here. He was especially impressed that this year saw many newcomers being added to the list. He then thanked the main sponsors of the RSC 9’s, Carlsberg Malaysia and CIMB for the RSC Junior Hockey and also the other sponsors such as Milo, UFL fitness, TOPS, Inter Movers, Backyard, Prodigy for their generosity and sponsorship in making the RSC Hockey 9’s and RSC Junior Hockey a success.. The Club V-President, Ms Julie Hoh was on hand to give out souvenirs to all participating teams and the main sponsors, Carlsberg. Following that the guests were then entertained to some showtime and the DJ for the night kept all present entertained to some enthralling music and the people danced the night away.
